Pickleball, mini-golf - exciting new playgrounds

Pickelball and mini-golf, which have been newly introduced to Vietnam, have appeared in Nha Trang City, partly meeting the demand for recreational and physical activities of sports lovers.

Pickleball combines the elements of table-tennis, badminton and tennis and is a popular sport throughout the world. Although it has just been introduced to Vietnam, pickleball has attracted a large number of players in some big provinces and cities over the country. This sport appeared in Nha Trang City around some months ago. However, only Khanh Hoa Provincial Sports Technical Training Center and Khanh Hoa University have playgrounds for pickeball, which mostly served the staff of the two units. 

Hoang Sa Pickleball Club, Phuoc Long Ward

In order to meet the demands for practicing pickleball in Nha Trang in particular and Khanh Hoa in general, Nguyen Luong Khanh, a lecturer at Naval Academy, has recently opened Hoang Sa Pickleball Club (32 Hoang Sa Street, Phuoc Long Ward, Nha Trang). 

According to Nguyen Luong Khanh, in the initial period, the club helps new players learn how to play pickleball. The club also holds weekly internal competitions so that the club members can exchange and improve their skills. Currently, Hoang Sa Pickleball Club has 2 courts transformed from tennis courts. Players can borrow balls, paddles and rent court by hour with fees ranging from VND60,000 to VND110,000. At the opening ceremony, the club invited the instructors from Asian Pickleball Federation and American Pickleball Association to demonstrate pickeball skills and organized a friendly competition for the players in Nha Trang, attracting many spectators.

Mini-golf is also a newly-introduced sport in Nha Trang City. Artist Nguyen Van Phung, who is known for many creative works of art, most notably the tire park in Phuoc Dong Commune, recently opened a mini-golf course at Yasaka Coffee and Bar (Yersin Street). Within an area of some hundreds of square meters, the mini-golf course not only has all the functions of an 18-hole golf course but is also a work of art, which can help players have interesting experiences. The mini-golf course aims to serve people at different ages with reasonable fees, as said by artist Nguyen Van Phung.

Artist Nguyen Van Phung's mini-golf course is located at Yasaka Coffee and Bar on Yersin Street

With around VND100,000, players have 1 hour to experience an 18-hole golf course with increasingly difficult challenges. Those who are new to this sport will be instructed by the course’s staff. On the opening day, many people including children came to experience this interesting sport. 

An Nhien
Translated by H.N